Cycling Proficiency

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to promote cycling proficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: We have already announced Bikeability will be supported for the remainder of this Parliament. In 2010-11 £11 million is available to fund up to 275,000 "Bikeability" Level 2 cycle-training places for children. £500,000 is available for bursaries to train new cycle training instructors.
	We expect to announce details of funding for Bikeability training the next four years very shortly.

Fire Services: Manpower

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has made an estimate of the frontline firefighter staffing levels required by each fire service.

Bob Neill: Decisions on operational issues such as firefighter staffing levels are taken by individual fire and rescue authorities as part of the Integrated Risk Management Planning process.
	The government are committed to enabling local authorities and local communities to make appropriate decisions at the local level. Fire and rescue authorities are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. Each fire and rescue authority's Management Plan enables that individual authority to decide how best to provide fire and rescue-related services, including prevention and protection as well as response, with resources being allocated on the basis of the evaluation of risk and where the risks are greatest.
	Local requirements are thus determined by local people according to local circumstances.
	For those reasons, no formal estimate or scrutiny of the frontline firefighter staffing levels required by each individual fire and rescue service has been made by central Government.

Mortgages

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on its assessment of the effect on house prices of the introduction of its mortgage market proposals; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has assessed the effect on the  (a) housing market and  (b) supply of new homes of the mortgage market review proposals made by the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he has discussed with the Council of Mortgage Lenders the likely effect on the housing market of the Financial Services Authority's proposals for responsible lending.

Grant Shapps: The new Government are committed to supporting aspiration to homeownership and shares the underlying objective of the Mortgage Market Review to create a stable, sustainable market for all participants. We must avoid the boom and bust that the property market has experienced in the last decade.
	We want to see a regulatory framework that supports access to homeownership and new housing supply while preventing repossessions.
	The Government believe the Financial Service's Authority's changes must be proportionate and avoid unnecessary prescription on the mortgage industry.
	My officials have worked closely with the Financial Services Authority and the Council of Mortgage Lenders on these proposals and will continue to do so. I have discussions with Treasury Ministers on a range of issues relating to my ministerial brief.

Mortgages

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the likely effect on  (a) the housing market and  (b) levels of home ownership of the Financial Services Authority's proposals on the mortgage market.

Grant Shapps: The new Government are committed to supporting aspiration to homeownership and shares the underlying objective of the Mortgage Market Review to create a stable, sustainable market for all participants. We must avoid the boom and bust that the property market has experienced in the last decade.
	We want to see a regulatory framework that supports access to homeownership and new housing supply while preventing repossessions.
	The Government believe the Financial Service's Authority's changes must be proportionate and avoid unnecessary prescription on the mortgage industry.
	My officials have worked closely with the Financial Services Authority and the Council of Mortgage Lenders on these proposals and will continue to do so. I have discussions with Treasury Ministers on a range of issues relating to my ministerial brief.

Biocidal Products: EU Law

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of products offered for sale in the UK which are prohibited under the terms of the EU Biocidal Products Directive in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: There are currently a large number of biocidal products that are legally on the UK market without an authorisation under the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD). These products contain active substances that are still being reviewed under the BPD for their potential future inclusion in annex I. Once these reviews are completed, individual products will be assessed and authorised; however, whilst the reviews are taking place the products can continue to be placed onto the market without the need for an authorisation under the directive. The review process began in 2000 but is still in its early stages with decisions reached only on the inclusion of around 40 substances in annex I of the BPD.
	Where industry has chosen not to support an active substance in the BPD, or exceptionally, where a substance has been assessed and found not to meet the criteria for inclusion (sufficient safety and effectiveness) an EU-level 'non-inclusion' decision is taken and a date is set by which the substance has to be taken off the market. The main tranche of active substances required to be withdrawn under the BPD had to be taken off the market by 1 September 2006, though since then a number of other active substances have been subject to non-inclusion decisions where companies have failed to support them. The latest of these was voted on in February 2010, and requires 14 substance/product type combinations to be taken off the market by 1 November 2011.
	Whenever HSE has been made aware of products containing substances that are no longer on the market for this reason, it has taken appropriate action by passing the relevant information on to the appropriate enforcing authorities, usually the local trading standards authority.

Disabled: Public Expenditure

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has set targets for the number of disabled people it employs in each year of the spending review period.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has targets in place for the number of disabled people it employs. The current targets were set for the period to March 2011 in line with 'Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity-A Strategy for the Civil Service'. The Department will be reviewing the position beyond March 2011 shortly.
	
		
			  Department for Work and Pensions: disability representation at different civil service grades (June 2010) 
			  Percentage 
			  Employee grade  Disabled staff  June 2010  Target  March 2011 
			 Senior Civil Service 5.0 5.2 
			 Grade 6/Band G 4.6 5.2 
			 Grade 7/Band F 4.6 5.2 
			 SEO/Band E and HEO/Band D 6.0 5.5 
			 Band EO/C, Band AO/B and Band AA/A 6.5 6.0 
			  Notes: 1. The representation rate is calculated from the number of people who have chosen to declare their disability status. This is the method recommended by the Office for National Statistics. 2. Data are sourced from the Department's internal HR information systems. 3. Civil Service grades cover a diverse range of roles in different posts and functions. Senior Civil Service grade roles are at deputy director, director or director general level, Grade 6/Band G and Grade 7/Band F jobs can be described as senior management roles, SEO/Band E, HEO/Band D and EO/Band C roles are managerial grades, and AO/Band B and AA/Band A grades are administrative roles. 
		
	
	Progress to June 2010 (the latest published figures) is set out in the table. Further information on the Department's progress to meet these targets is published in the "Department's Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes Annual Progress Report 2009-10". An electronic copy of this document is available on the Department's website.

Employment Schemes

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the work programme.

Chris Grayling: The Work Programme will be a black-box, outcome funded programme rewarding delivery partners from the benefit savings generated. Payments to delivery partners will be made for moving customers into work and keeping customers in work. As we will be paying by results after they have occurred, from the savings generated, the cost to the public purse will be driven by the level of performance achieved.
	At this time we are in competitive tendering process for the Work Programme. We expect organisations bidding for the Work Programme to state in their bids the level of performance they expect to achieve and compete on the price they require. This will enable us to let contracts on the most advantageous economic terms. Until this process is complete indicating Government expectations of Work Programme performance and so cost would prejudice our ability to generate optimum value for money for the taxpayer.

Housing Benefit

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the implementation of the proposed changes to local housing allowance on the level of use of the provisions of section 20 of the Children Act 1989 in respect of accommodation for children in need.

Steve Webb: We are publishing an impact assessment along with the Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2010 which give effect to our changes to the local housing allowance arrangements from April 2011.
	There is no reason to believe that there should be an increase in the number of children with a housing need. We have a substantial package of financial and practical support in place, including up to nine months transitional protection from a reduction in the local housing allowance rate. This will ensure that for the small number of households that do have to move, it will be managed in a careful way.

Income Support: Lone Parents

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on lone parent students of the transition from income support to jobseeker's allowance;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on lone parent students of  (a) reducing and  (b) withdrawing income support during their studies.

Chris Grayling: Prior to November 2008 lone parents could claim Income Support until their youngest child reached 16. This age has been progressively reduced, and currently lone parents with a youngest child aged seven and over wishing to claim benefit have to claim jobseeker's allowance if they are capable of work.
	Lone parents who are in receipt of income support and are full-time students or undertaking a full-time course on the new deal for lone parents programme (or as part of an approved scheme) prior to the change can remain entitled to income support until they finish their course or their youngest child reaches the relevant age in force at the time they started the course, whichever happens first.
	Lone parents who decide to undertake a full-time course after the income support entitlement change came into force will not be able to claim jobseeker's allowance but may be able to access support from the educational maintenance system which, unlike the social security system, is designed for their needs. Lone parents studying part-time can claim jobseeker's allowance but need to demonstrate they are available for and actively seeking work.

Independent Living Fund

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which disability organisations the Minister for Disabled People has met to discuss the future of the independent living fund.

Maria Miller: I have met with a number of disability organisations and other bodies to discuss the future of the independent living fund: the chair of Equality 2025; the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability; the Disability Charities Consortium and the Disabled People's Organisations Group; and the Independent Living Fund Advisory Group. I have also met with other disability organisations individually, including speaking with the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL), and will continue to do so as we consider the future of the independent living fund in the context of the spending review.
	I have also had meetings with the trustees and management of the independent living fund and held telephone meetings with devolved Administrations.

Medical Checks: Atos

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the duration is of his Department's contract with Atos in respect of medical checks on benefit claimants.

Chris Grayling: Following a competitive tender exercise the Medical Services Agreement between Atos Healthcare and the Department for Work and Pensions was awarded on 15 March 2005 by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The contract went live on 1 September 2005, for a period of seven years, with options to extend for a further three and two years. On 1 November 2010 the Minister of State for Employment awarded a contract extension to 31 August 2015 to facilitate the delivery of incapacity benefit reassessment. The new disability living allowance assessment service from 2013, is not included in the extension but will be awarded through a competitive tendering process.

Medical Examinations: Atos

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the monetary value is of his Department's contract with Atos in respect of medical checks on benefit claimants.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions awarded Atos Origin IT Services Ltd. trading as Atos Healthcare, the contract to provide Medical Services on behalf of the Department from 1 September 2005. The total cost of these services amounts to approximately £100 million per annum. This figure not only covers the total number of examinations undertaken across all benefits, but also costs relating to written and verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology and other service improvements.

Medical Examinations: Atos

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what performance standards are required in his Department's contract with Atos in respect of medical checks on benefit claimants; and what the outcome has been of performance assessments of Atos undertaken by his Department in the last 24 months.

Chris Grayling: The Department manages all aspects of performance and service delivery of the medical services contract through the monitoring of: service level performance, quality audits and complaints.
	The contractual agreement between DWP and Atos Healthcare contains numerous performance targets covering a wide range of features including throughput, customer service and medical quality. Schedule 5 of the Contract details the service levels DWP requires from Atos Healthcare. A copy of the contract is available in the House of Commons Library
	http://deposits.parliament.uk./
	then click on Dep2010-1704.zip. The relevant files are titled, Clauses.pdf, New Contract Index.pdf and Schedules 1 to 33.pdf
	The medical quality target is that, based on rolling three month data, no more than 5% of reports should be classed as a C grade, defined as:
	Key requirements are not satisfied to the extent that the product fails to meet Atos Healthcare Professional Standards.
	Results for the last 24 months are:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   ESA assessments  IB assessments  IB scrutiny  DLA/AA assessments  II DB assessments  ESA file work  Over all 
			  2010
			 October 3.9 3.9 3.2 3.9 1.7 1.1 2.6 
			 September 4.6 3.2 3.0 3.9 2.1 1.2 2.8 
			 August 4.2 3.8 2.1 4.5 1.6 1.6 2.8 
			 July 4.0 4.2 1.8 4.5 1.6 1.2 2.7 
			 June 3.9 4.5 1.4 4.9 1.8 0.7 2.5 
			 May 3.4 3.7 2.0 4.2 2.2 0.5 2.2 
			 April 3.7 2.9 1.6 5.2 1.9 0.5 2.3 
			 March 3.2 2.1 2.0 3.9 1.2 0.5 2.0 
			 February 3.8 2.0 1.9 4.3 1.8 0.7 2.2 
			 January 3.7 2.3 2.5 3.6 2.0 0.7 2.3 
			 
			  2009
			 December 4.2 2.7 1.8 3.3 2.5 0.7 2.3 
			 November 4.6 2.7 1.6 3.9 2.0 0.4 2.3 
			 October 4.3 3.2 1.6 4.3 2.4 0.5 2.2 
			 September 4.0 3.6 1.8 4.6 1.6 0.9 2.3 
			 August 3.5 3.6 2.1 3.4 1.2 1.2 2.2 
			 July 4.7 3.7 2.1 2.9 1.6 1.4 2.3 
			 June 5.7 4.5 3.5 4.0 2.4 1.2 3.0 
			 May - 5.6 3.2 4.1 3.5 - 3.3 
			 April - 4.3 3.2 3.8 2.6 - 2.7 
			 March - 4.0 1.8 3.7 1.9 - 2.1 
			 February - 2.9 1.6 4.3 1.3 - 2.1 
			 January - 4.1 0.9 3.9 1.3 - 2.1 
			 
			  2008
			 December - 4.0 1.4 4.0 1.5 - 2.2 
			 November - 5.1 1.5 3.9 2.4 - 2.1 
		
	
	Figures are not available for employment and support allowance up to May 2009. This is due to the volume of referrals not presenting a statistically valid sample size during that period.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms will be put in place to support disabled homeowners whose disability prevents them from earning an income.

Maria Miller: Disabled home-owners who are entitled to income-related employment and support allowance or income support, may receive an additional element called support for mortgage interest. This makes a contribution towards the interest on eligible loans taken out to purchase the property. It also makes a contribution towards specific loans for repairs and improvements which are necessary to maintain the home's fitness for habitation or to loans taken out to adapt a home to meet the special needs of a disabled person.

Retirement: EU Countries

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on EU member states which do not have a default retirement age.

Steve Webb: Legal frameworks relating to retirement differ widely between member states, though all are covered by the EU framework directive. In the strictest sense, no other EU countries have a default retirement age, as this is specific to UK legislation. DWP and BIS monitor developments in member states' policies, and are aware that some countries do operate or have operated retirement ages in at least some sectors. However, decisions on the details of legislation in this area must be made in the context of the UK's economy and legal framework.
	As part of the review of the default retirement age, DWP commissioned a comparative review of international approaches to mandatory retirement. This review compared the UK with France, Ireland and Sweden, along with five countries outside the EU. The report 'A comparative Review of International Approaches to Mandatory Retirement, 2010' is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010//rrep674.pdf#

UN Food and Agriculture Organisation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the compliance of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Chris Grayling: The Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) comply with the UK Government's Timber Procurement Policy which requires central Departments to purchase legal and sustainable or Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber and wood derived products. This means all timber and wood derived products are independently certified by either the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
	DEFRA take responsibility to ensure that the Timber Procurement Policy addresses other criteria for sourcing sustainable timber, such as that of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
	Remploy, one of the Department's NDPBs, is also a manufacturer. The wood machining sites of its commercial furniture manufacturing business have FSC accreditation, as do their suppliers.
	The Department, its agencies and NDPBs have systems in place to ensure UK Government policy is adhered to.

Universal Credit: Welfare

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 15 of his White Paper entitled Universal Credit: welfare that works, what assessment he has made of the likely effects on HM Revenue and Customs of his Department administering the universal benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: There will be significant changes and efficiencies effecting the administration arrangements for both DWP and HMRC as a result of the introduction of Universal Credit.
	Overtime, the financial support currently delivered by HMRC through Tax credits will be replaced by Universal Credit. This process will not be completed until Universal Credit is fully in place, around four years after implementation begins in 2013. The extent of the changes and efficiencies will depend on the eventual design of Universal Credit and its delivery.
	I am working closely with my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke) the Exchequer Secretary at HMRC to ensure a smooth transition to Universal Credit for both DWP and HMRC.

Universal Credit: Welfare

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 8 of his White Paper entitled Universal Credit: welfare that works, what steps he plans to take to ensure that no individual will experience a reduction in the benefit they receive as a result of the introduction of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The introduction of Universal Credit will allow people to keep more earnings from small amounts of regular work.
	In managing the transition to Universal Credit we will make sure that those who will gain most from the incentive to work will move in the first phase, and that no-one whose circumstances are unchanged will see their entitlement reduced when they move on to Universal Credit.

Work Capability Assessment Review

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy on its contract with Atos of the recommendations of the independent work capability assessment review led by Professor Richard Harrington.

Chris Grayling: The Medical Services Agreement between Atos Healthcare and the Department for Work and Pensions commenced on 1 September 2005 for a period of seven years, with options to extend for a further three and two years. On 1 November 2010 the Minister of State for Employment awarded a contract extension to 31 August 2015.
	Professor Harrington considered all aspects of the operation of the WCA, including the Atos assessment and concluded that, whilst the assessment is not working as well as it should and much could be done to make it fairer and more effective, the system is not broken or beyond repair.
	Professor Harrington has recommended a series of practical improvements to the work capability assessment which we have accepted. A number of these relate to the work of Atos Healthcare-specifically that every Atos assessment contains a personalised summary of the assessment; that Atos provide mental, intellectual and cognitive champions in each medical assessment centre; that Atos pilot the audio recording of assessments; and that Atos develop and publish a charter of claimant rights and responsibilities and consider publishing their guidance online.
	Before publishing its response and accepting these recommendations, the Department negotiated with Atos to ensure that these recommendations would be achievable. We will now work closely with Atos Healthcare in order to introduce them as fully and speedily as possible.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appeals have been submitted in respect of applications for consideration under the alternative method of the Single Payment Scheme in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Paice: Under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) regulations member states were required to create a National Reserve (NR) to give qualifying farmers an opportunity to obtain an increase in the value of the historic element of their SPS payment entitlements.
	Farmers could apply for an allocation from the NR under a number of categories, one of which was the Investor category. If a farmer considered that the standard method of calculating the allocation under the Investor category did not fully reflect the investment they had made they could request an alternative method of calculating the allocation (referred to as 'Alternative Investors').
	Since April 2009 RPA has received 22 Stage 1 appeals under the SPS Procedure against the decision not to make an allocation under the Alternative Investor category of the NR. Of these 20 farmers progressed to Stage 2 of the appeal procedure.

Forests: Sustainable Development

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on compliance of  (a) public and  (b) private sector organisations with the provisions of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation in respect of sustainable forest management.

James Paice: The main provisions for sustainable forest management internationally are contained in the Rio Forest Principles and the subsequent work of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel and Forum on Forests, which the Food and Agricultural Organisation facilitates the implementation of through a number of its activities on forests.
	These global commitments on forests have been articulated for European forests through resolutions of Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe, including the development of pan-European criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management. The UK has used this pan-European framework to inform its approach to sustainable forest management, which is contained in the UK Forestry Standard that both public and private forest owners and managers are expected to comply with.

Poultry: Eggs

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the introduction of a No 4 production code for enriched eggs to differentiate them from eggs produced using conventional cages after 1 January 2012; and what recent discussions she has had at EU level on the introduction of a ban on eggs and egg products produced from hens housed in conventional cages after 1 January 2010.

James Paice: I have received many letters on this subject from MPs and individual farmers recently. The UK Government remains entirely committed to the conventional cage ban coming into force on 1 January 2012 and to supporting industry throughout the transition. DEFRA officials are continuing to work with the European Commission and industry to ensure that everything is done to protect UK producers who have already made significant investment to comply with the legislation.
	The UK has suggested the introduction of a Code '4' for eggs produced by hens housed in enriched systems with the Commission, to ensure they can be distinguished from those housed in conventional cages after the ban is introduced. However, the Commission has made it clear that it views the introduction of an additional Code as confusing to consumers. It is not an option it is willing to consider.
	We have therefore, along with some member states, asked the Commission to provide sufficient enforcement controls across the European Union. This will help protect compliant producers and ensure that they are not disadvantaged if there was any delay to the ban, or any member states fail to meet the 2012 deadline. One way of achieving this might be an intra-community ban on the trade in eggs produced by hens still housed in conventional cages after 1 January 2012. In practice this would mean that such eggs may only be sold in the member state of production for a limited period only.

Tigers

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking together with  (a) other governments and  (b) international agencies to reduce the illegal trade in tigers.

Richard Benyon: International trade in tiger parts is a significant threat to the species and as a party to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES), the UK is supportive of its increasing focus on enforcement, its work with range and consumer countries as well as enforcement agencies such as Interpol. The UK has been involved in the development of the Global Tiger Initiative, a World Bank programme which aims to address threats to the species so that numbers in the wild will double by 2022, as well as the inter-governmental Global Tiger Forum.
	The Government take seriously the threat to wildlife from smuggling and trafficking wildlife. The UK is currently chair of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), a coalition of six governments and 13 non-government organisations, committed to raising the profile of illegal trade to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.

Tuna: Conservation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on a settlement by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas which would not guarantee the recovery of bluefish tuna stocks by 2022.

Richard Benyon: I made it clear to the Fisheries Council on 25 October 2010 that the protection of bluefin tuna had to be a top priority for the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and that if further cuts were necessary to the total allowable catch (TAC) in order to achieve this, then they should be made. While we would have preferred to have seen a more significant reduction in the TAC to increase probability of recovery by 2022, the decision by ICCAT to reduce it by a further 600 tonnes is within the parameters of the recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS).

Tuna: Conservation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what submissions her Department made to the EU Council on its negotiating position for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas discussions on a potential ban on the commercial fishing of bluefish tuna.

Richard Benyon: During such discussions, the UK advised the Council that it favoured providing a mandate that would have obliged the Commission to seek a significant reduction in the level of total allowable catch (TAC). This did not prove to be possible, as member states with fishing possibilities opposed this, and pressed for a mandate that would have sought retention of the TAC at last year's levels.
	Following extensive negotiations, a presidency compromise was adopted, which sought to achieve a level of TAC that would provide between 60 and 77% probability of achieving maximum sustainable yields by 2022. The UK abstained, because opposing would have meant that the EU had no mandate to negotiate on bluefin tuna, and this could have resulted in contracting parties seeking an increase to the TAC, which would have made the situation worse.

Bahrain: Politics and Government

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the effects on the political situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain of the Government's assistance to it in respect of security intelligence.

Alistair Burt: It is the long-standing policy of successive UK governments not to comment on security and intelligence matters.

Colombia: Homicide

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department received on the numbers of journalists killed in Colombia in 2009.

Jeremy Browne: According to official government figures and the Colombian Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP), one journalist was killed in Colombia in 2009.
	We are concerned about the safety of human rights defenders in Colombia, including journalists. We regularly raise our concerns with the Colombian Government, including at a recent meeting between our ambassador and the head of the Vice President's Unit for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Islington North on 9 November 2010,  Official Report, column 141, on the Western Sahara, what steps were taken in response to his request for monitoring by his Department's officials based in Morocco.

Alistair Burt: The Government support the idea of independent verification of the human rights situation in Western Sahara. Discussions regarding human rights monitoring in Western Sahara need to explore all options and identify which organisation is best placed to deliver that function.
	Our embassy in Rabat works closely with local and international human rights non-governmental organisations on a range of human rights issues and raises specific human rights cases with the Moroccan authorities when appropriate. Work to monitor human rights in Morocco includes working in partnership with other EU missions in Rabat as part of our wider engagement with Morocco.

Flexible Working

Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what consultation her Department has undertaken with  (a) public and  (b) private sector employers on her plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees.

Lynne Featherstone: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and I have had several informal discussions with a number of public and private sector organisations, as well as other key stakeholders, about flexible working. We will continue to work closely with colleagues at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who have responsibility for this matter and who will begin formally consulting on the extension to the right to request flexible working to all employees in the new year.

UN Food and Agriculture Organisation

William Bain: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the compliance of the Government Equalities Office with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not source any timber. Since its creation on 12 October 2007, the GEO has been a tenant of Communities and Local Government and any sourcing of timber and compliance with the UN criteria is for CLG to manage.

Film

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the British Film Institute on its responsibilities for development and promotion of UK films in respect of UK-written and produced films in  (a) indigenous and  (b) non-indigenous UK languages.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not currently have a direct funding relationship with the British Film Institute (BFI). This is a matter for UK Film Council to address.
	In my capacity as Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries, I made an announcement on Monday 29 November about the Department's new relationship with the BFI, which will take effect from April 2011. The details of this proposal, designed to create a more sustainable future for the British film industry, have been published on our website and can be found at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7603.aspx

Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with  (a) the Scottish Executive,  (b) Historic Scotland and  (c) the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland on his proposal to end the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme; and what plans he has for the future value added tax liabilities of repairs to listed places of worship.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, and has announced that the scheme will continue until 2014-15, with a fixed annual budget of £12 million and an amended scope. Officials have discussed decisions with Historic Scotland and have recently responded to correspondence from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
	European Union (EU) VAT legislation agreed by successive governments does not provide any scope for the introduction of new zero rates or the extension of existing ones. Furthermore, given that the last discussions on reduced rates of VAT concluded after six years of negotiation, there is no appetite at EU level for these to be reviewed again. There is thus no realistic prospect of any change to the current VAT arrangements for the foreseeable future.

Wood

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the compliance of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice's timber procurement is following the specifications set out in the UK Government's Timber Procurement Policy and requires that all timber and wood-derived products procured must be from only independently verifiable legal and sustainable sources or FLEGT-licensed timber or equivalent sources. The Government's definition of sustainability is based on internationally agreed criteria for sustainable forest management, which are also referred to by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
	The timber purchased by the Ministry of Justice is used by the prison industry workshops for the manufacture of office furniture and associated joinery products. All woodwork workshops undertake goods inward inspections to ensure all timber received is as per the above guidance.

Air Passenger Duty

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assumptions in respect of the rates of air passenger duty were used in calculations to obtain the forecasts for air passenger duty receipts contained in table C11 in the Budget 2010 report;
	(2)  what estimates of air passenger numbers were used in calculations to obtain the forecasts for air passenger duty receipts contained in table C11 in the Budget 2010 report;
	(3)  what methodology was used to calculate the forecasts for air passenger duty receipts contained in table C11 in the Budget 2010 report.

Justine Greening: The air passenger duty forecast uses announced duty rates where available and beyond that the assumption is that duty rates will be increased in line with the retail prices index at each Budget. This is set out on page 51 of the June Budget policy costings document:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/junebudget_costings.htm
	Passenger numbers by band are forecast using econometric models of the demand for air travel, based on the relationship of passenger numbers with macro economic variables including GDP and disposable income. The latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecast of these variables is used to produce the forecast. Outturn passenger numbers by band, as well as outturn receipts data are published by HMRC:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=bullair
	The receipts forecast is the product of projected passenger numbers multiplied by assumed duty rates. Some small adjustments are made to reflect unusual factors, such as the volcanic ash cloud and industrial action, as well as the latest receipts outturn.

Budget June 2010: Equality

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what legal advice his Department obtained on the compliance of the proposals in his Budget Statement of 22 June 2010 with the statutory equality duties; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department made of the compatibility of the proposals in his Budget Statement of 22 June 2010 with the Government's statutory equality duties; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what written communications he received from other Ministers on the compliance of the proposals in his Budget Statement of 22 June 2010 with the Government's statutory equality duties.

Justine Greening: The Treasury takes its statutory equality duties very seriously. The Department seeks legal advice where necessary, although this is not obligatory.
	The Treasury has assessed the compliance of each of the 101 measures announced in the June Budget with our equality duties in respect to gender. In some cases, an impact assessment was not necessary or appropriate; in others an impact assessment had already been carried out or would be carried out after the Budget announcement at the appropriate time; and in other cases the measure has already been implemented in primary legislation. Two gender impact assessments (on the public sector pay freeze and indexation of benefits by CPI) that were originally not included have now been completed and the policies reconsidered in light of these impacts. These policies will go forward as planned.
	I work closely with my colleagues, especially the Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), to ensure that HM Treasury complies with its statutory obligations.

Debt Collection: Data Protection

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to ensure that private sector debt collection agencies comply with  (a) data protection legislation and  (b) principles of confidentiality in handling taxpayers' personal information under his proposals for collection of tax arrears.

David Gauke: holding answer 29 November 2010
	HMRC require debt collection agencies (DCAs) working on its behalf to comply with strict codes of conduct and the contracts require that they maintain HMRC standards in relation to customer service, data security and professionalism. A robust audit and assurance process has been put in place which builds on the experience gained during the 2009-10 pilot.

EU Grants and Loans: Republic of Ireland

William Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what legal advice he has  (a) sought and  (b) received on the compliance of the actions of each relevant EU institution (i) preparatory to and (ii) during the negotiation of a programme of financial support for the Republic of Ireland with the procedure prescribed in article 3 of the Council Regulation establishing the European Financial Stability Mechanism;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the compliance of the actions of each relevant EU institution in respect of negotiations  (a) preparatory to and  (b) in respect of a programme of financial support for the Republic of Ireland with the procedure prescribed in article 3 of the Council Regulation establishing the European Financial Stability Mechanism.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 23 November 2010
	The terms of operation of the European Financial Stability Mechanism are set out in EU Council Regulation No. 407/2010. In accordance with Paragraph 1 of Article 3 of this Regulation, and following a request from Ireland for Union financial assistance on 21 November, discussions with the Commission and European Central Bank (ECB) are under way.
	The Government have full confidence that all relevant EU institutions strictly adhere to and comply with the terms set out in Article 3 of the Council Regulation.

Mortgages

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research he has evaluated on the likely effects on access to mortgages of the Financial Services Authority's mortgage market proposals;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the Financial Services Authority's mortgage market proposals on the operation of the housing market;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the evidential basis for the Financial Services Authority's assessment of the effects on house prices of implementation of the authority's mortgage market proposals.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to a healthy housing and mortgage market.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
	The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
	The FSA published 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending' in July. This paper forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
	The FSA has stated that they will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes.

Mortgages

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the comparative effects on potential new house-buyers of  (a) the Financial Services Authority's responsible mortgage-lending proposals and  (b) the lending proposals of the European Commission.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to a healthy housing and mortgage market. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
	The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
	The FSA published 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending' in July. This forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
	The FSA has stated that they will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes.
	The European Commission has not yet announced any proposals on responsible lending. Should any proposals be put forward, the Secretariat-General requires that all Commission initiatives with significant impacts be supported by an impact assessment.

National Insurance Contributions: Portsmouth

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone through  (a) implementing and  (b) administering an employers' national insurance contribution holiday scheme in the Portsmouth city council area in the period to which the provisions of the holiday scheme under the National Insurance Contributions Bill will apply.

David Gauke: holding answer 25 November 2010
	The Government have no plans to introduce national insurance contribution exemptions based on city council areas. The regional national insurance holiday for new businesses is targeted at those regional labour markets most reliant on public sector employment. Labour markets generally extended much wider than city council area boundaries. For this reason, and for reasons of administrative practicality, eligibility for the holiday is defined by region. The Government have made no estimate of the impacts of such options.

Students: Loans

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what controls  (a) he and  (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer exercise over arrangements made by the Student Loans Company to securitise its loans.

David Gauke: The Shareholder Executive in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has lead responsibility for exploring options to monetise the Student Loan Portfolio including looking at securitisation options. This work is ongoing and the Government intend to reach a decision on whether and how to monetise the portfolio by Budget 2011. The Student Loans Company is owned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Scottish Executive.

Tax Yields

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many settlements under controlled foreign companies legislation have yielded  (a) under £1 million,  (b) between £1 million and £10 million,  (c) between £10 million and £100 million,  (d) between £100 million and £1 billion and  (e) above £1 billion in each of the last three financial years; and what the total yield was from all such settlements;
	(2)  how much tax was at risk in cases under controlled foreign companies legislation in each of the last three years; and in how many cases the tax at risk was  (a) under £1 million,  (b) between £1 million and £10 million,  (c) between £10 million and £100 million,  (d) between £100 million and £1 billion and  (e) above £1 billion;
	(3)  how many cases have been settled under controlled foreign companies (CFC) legislation so as to produce lower yields to HM Revenue and Customs than would have been the case if such legislation had been applied in full in each of the last three financial years; how many of these settlements were  (a) under £1 million,  (b) between £1 million and £10 million,  (c) between £10 million and £100 million,  (d) between £100 million and £1 billion and  (e) above £1 billion; and what the total difference is between the level of the settlements and the maximum which would have been due if the CFC legislation had been fully applied.

David Gauke: holding answer 22 November 2010
	It is difficult to give a precise answer to this question as the CFC inquiry is often part of a wider investigation and a settlement of a CFC dispute may have been included in an overall settlement figure. There is also a danger that providing the information in the format requested could lead to the identification of specific taxpayers. Our best estimate of the total yield and the number of settlements falling within the following bands are:
	
		
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Number settlements yield < £1 million 79 64 67 
			 Number settlements yield > £1 million and < £10 million 6 5 16 
			 Number settlements yield > £10 million 4 3 6 
		
	
	The total recorded yield from all the identified CFC settlements in the last three financial years (2007-08 to 2009-10), is £719,446,086.
	The amount of tax at risk in respect of any UK company with a holding in a CFC depends on the facts and until an inquiry is completed cannot be more than an estimate. As the facts are established during the course of an inquiry, the tax at risk in any case fluctuates as the inquiry proceeds. Consequently it is not possible to provide an answer to this question.
	In every case where a CFC inquiry has been settled in each of the last three financial years, the CFC rules have been applied in full to establish the extent of any liability, or in some cases that there is no liability.

Taxation

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the contribution to the UK tax base of each sector of the economy.

David Gauke: HMRC produce a breakdown by broad industrial sector for corporation tax, PAYE income tax and class 1 national insurance contributions (NICs) and value added tax (VAT).
	Historical figures for corporation tax receipts paid by several broadly-defined business sectors are regularly updated and published in Table 11.1, on the HMRC National Statistics website. Receipts information is currently available up to 2009-10. The sectors are defined by HMRC's Summary Trade Classifications. The latest update is available here:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11_1.pdf
	PAYE income tax and class 1 NICs received by HMRC in respect of employee and employer liabilities in 2009-10 are split by sector as follows:
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  Sector  £ billion 
			 Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry 0.9 
			 Mining and Quarrying 1.0 
			 Manufacturing 23.5 
			 Electricity, Gas and Water Supply 1.5 
			 Construction 11.9 
			 Wholesale and Retail Trade 21.3 
			 Hotels and Restaurants 3.7 
			 Transport, Storage and Communication 12.3 
			 Financial Intermediation 23.2 
			 Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities 43.3 
			 Public Administration and Defence 12.5 
			 Education 20.7 
			 Health and Social Work 19.5 
			 Other Community, Social and Personal Service Activities 7.3 
			 Occupational Pensions 10.1 
			 Other -0.3 
			 Total 212.4 
		
	
	The sectors are defined by the Office for National Statistics' Standard Industrial Classification 2003. The occupational pensions figure in the table above includes all income tax on occupational pensions regardless of the sector in which the person was previously employed.
	Declared VAT is published by trade group in the VAT factsheet, table 2.3:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=factvat
	Given that sectors for corporation tax and VAT and PAYE income tax and class 1 NICs are defined differently these sets of figures are not directly comparable.

Wood

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the compliance of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Justine Greening: HM Treasury Group (including: the Asset Protection Agency, the Debt Management Office and the Office for Budget Responsibility) apply the UK Government guidelines for timber procurement policy as specified by 'the Central Point of Expertise on Timber' on behalf of DEFRA.
	The furniture procured by HM Treasury Group is sourced from framework suppliers that comply with the Government Buying Standards. The Government Buying Standard for furniture requires that timber must be purchased in accordance with UK timber procurement policy.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average response time was for  (a) Harriers and  (b) Tornados when deployed in Afghanistan following a call for close air support from air troops in action in each of the last two years.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 16 November 2010
	 I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. However, I can confirm that there are no significant differences between the response times of these aircraft.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department has allocated for the treatment of seriously injured personnel in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Nick Harvey: Funding for the treatment of wounded personnel has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements. Expenditure attributable to those injured as a result of operations cannot be separately identified. For example, costs for the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court covers the treatment of all seen there, regardless of the reason for their injury.
	The strategic defence and security review announced that the provision of health care to service personnel will be enhanced by an extra £20 million per annum in the spending review years of 2011-12 to 2014-15. This will be used to pay for additional medical staff and to deliver better mental health care facilities.

Departmental Manpower

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff are employed in the Ministerial correspondence section of his Department.

Andrew Robathan: There are eight permanent members of staff working in the Ministry Of Defence's Ministerial Correspondence Unit.

Ex-servicemen: Higher Education

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing support for ex-service personnel to study at university over the period of the comprehensive spending review.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Universities and Science (Mr Willetts) gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) on 2 November 2010,  Official Report, column 687W.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans who were present at UK nuclear test in 1957 and 1958 have successfully applied under the War Pension Scheme for  (a) a pension and  (b) other funds.

Andrew Robathan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The War Pensions Computer System, which has recorded various statistical data relating to claims and appeals since 1995, does not have the facility to uniquely identify people who participated in nuclear tests and who have claimed a war pension or gratuity.
	Compensation in the form of a War Pension is available to all former members of the armed forces who suffer disablement which is attributable to service prior to 6 April 2005 including nuclear test veterans. The causal link may be with any part of their service. There are currently some 180,000 war pensions in payment.

Military Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Harrier and  (b) Tornado force elements his Department maintains at readiness.

Nick Harvey: I am withholding this information as its release would, or would be likely, to prejudice the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.

Military Bases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions the right hon. Member for Doncaster North has participated in a visit to a Ministry of Defence facility in each of the last five years;
	(2)  on how many occasions the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire has participated in a visit to a Ministry of Defence facility in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: The number of visits undertaken by Members of Parliament to defence establishments is not recorded.

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to put in place arrangements to take account of circumstances in which a local government by-election takes place on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and the proposed referendum on the alternative vote.

Mark Harper: Clause 4 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill ("PVSC Bill") provides that the referendum on the voting system will be combined with the following polls which are scheduled to take place on 5 May:
	Elections to the Welsh Assembly
	Elections to the Scottish Parliament
	Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
	Local elections in England
	Local elections in Northern Ireland
	Mayoral elections (in four local authorities in England (Bedford, Middlesbrough, Mansfield and Torbay))
	Parish elections in England
	In addition, we are aware that it is likely that there will be some local mayoral referendums in England on 5 May which will be run on the same boundaries as the; referendum on the voting system and local elections. We have included provisions in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill to allow for these polls to also be combined with the referendum.
	Any other unscheduled polls, for example a local government by-election in Scotland, can still take place on 5 May but would not be combined with any of the aforementioned polls. In effect, this would mean that separate polling stations would be required for the poll and that some other elements such as notices and forms would not be combined. Since such polls will be run on separate boundaries this will avoid practical difficulties for electoral administrators.

Higher Education: Vocational Guidance

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department plans to take to improve careers advice for students  (a) choosing higher education courses and  (b) during higher education courses.

John Hayes: The Coalition Government are committed to improving the quality of careers advice for students making decisions about education and training. We will establish an all-age careers service in England from April 2012. Careers advisers in the service will have access to clear information about higher education courses and sources of funding. We are also working with the Careers Profession Alliance to ensure that careers advisers have the up to date knowledge and skills they need to advise on career prospects, including for STEM subjects.
	Schools will be under a legal duty to secure independent, impartial licensed careers guidance for their students, either from the all-age careers service or from the open market. Higher Education Institutions will continue to provide careers guidance for their students through in-house arrangements. But we will encourage use of the all-age service, and that its quality standards should be widely applied.
	Improving information for prospective students is also a key part of our future plans for higher education. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is consulting on proposals that higher education institutions should publish, from September 2012, a standard set of 16 key information items, for each course, on their websites. The information is based on what research shows that students want: information about costs, previous student satisfaction, employment outcomes and number of contact hours.

New Businesses: Advisory Services

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve access to advice for new businesses.

Mark Prisk: The Government are taking measures to modernise how support, information and advice is provided to businesses, as set out in the White Paper "Local Growth-realising every place's potential" which was published on 28 October. The new business improvement landscape will deliver a streamlined, more efficient system of providing information and guidance alongside the private sector, to people in both new and established businesses. It will include:
	An improved national website supported by a national contact centre, to provide information and advice.
	A highly connected network of 'growth hubs' designed to accelerate business growth.
	A national mentoring network to improve access to mentoring provision for both mentors and those looking for mentoring support, as announced on 15 November.
	A streamlined portfolio of business improvement products to focus Government funding on where it can best improve economic growth, to be launched by my Department by April 2011.
	In addition, my officials are working with DWP, who will be providing help locally to unemployed people who want to start a business through the new enterprise allowance which will enable people to retain an equivalent sum to the jobseeker's allowance for a period whilst they start up and also provide them with access to a mentor and small loan if they require capital to start.
	I also will be working towards removing any qualification barriers that prevent small firms from accessing government contracts.

New Businesses: Bradford

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of his Department's provision of support for business start-ups in the Bradford area.

Mark Prisk: The Department is establishing Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) as set out in the White Paper "Local Growth-realising every place's potential". In Bradford this will be covered by a new LEP for the Leeds city region. This will involve local business and civic leaders working together to drive economic growth and create new jobs in their communities.
	The new LEP for the Leeds city region will be able to draw on the resources available at a national level which will deliver a streamlined, more efficient system of providing information and guidance alongside the private sector, to people in both new and established businesses. This will include:
	An improved national website supported by a national contact centre, to provide information and advice.
	A highly connected network of 'growth hubs' designed to accelerate business growth.
	A national mentoring network to improve access to mentoring provision for both mentors and those looking for mentoring support, as announced on 15 November.
	A streamlined portfolio of business improvement products to focus Government funding on where it can best improve economic growth, to be launched by my Department by April 2011.
	In addition, my officials are working with DWP, who will be providing help locally to unemployed people who want to start a business through the new enterprise allowance which will enable people to retain an equivalent sum to the jobseeker's allowance for a period while they start up and also provide them with access to a mentor and small loan if they require capital to start.

Regional Development Agencies: Assets

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the Regional Development Agency assets he expects to be managed by (a) his Department and  (b) the Department of Communities and Local Government under the proposals in paragraph 2.44 of the Local Growth White Paper.

Mark Prisk: This Department and the Department of Communities and Local Government are working closely together to finalise the arrangements for the management of RDA assets and liabilities between the two Departments. The monetary value of the assets managed by each Department cannot be assessed until this division of assets and liabilities has been completed.

Royal Mail

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Communication Workers Union on the future of Royal Mail.

Edward Davey: BIS Ministers and officials have held several meeting with representatives of the CWU to discuss the Government's policy on Royal Mail and the provisions in the Postal Services Bill. The meetings were as follows:
	
		
			  Date  
			 7 June Meeting with Secretary of State 
			 3 August Meeting with Edward Davey 
			 31 August Meeting with officials 
			 9 September Meeting with Edward Davey 
			 20 September Stakeholder Briefing Session 
			 3 November Stakeholder Briefing Session 
			 8 November Meeting with officials 
			 29 November Meeting with officials 
		
	
	A further meeting between the CWU and Edward Davey has been arranged for 16 December 2010.

SG First Minister

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010,  Official Report, column 888W, on the Scottish Government First Minister, how many  (a) civil servants,  (b) special advisers and  (c) press officers accompanied him to the meeting on 1 June 2010; which (i) Ministers in the Scottish Government, (ii) other Members of the Scottish Parliament, (iii) Scottish Government officials and (iv) political advisers attended the meeting; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the meeting attributable to his Department.

Edward Davey: Other attendees were Tavish Scott MSP, along with a senior economist from the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the Scottish Government, and the Secretary of State and Scottish Government's First Ministers' private secretaries. It is not possible to isolate the costs of this meeting from the rest of the visit.

Student Loans Company: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a response to his faxed letter of 9 November 2010 to the chief executive of the Student Loans Company regarding a constituent; and for what reasons no acknowledgement was sent.

Edward Davey: The MPs office were contacted 30 November 2010. They have been advised that the customer was contacted last week with a resolution to her complaint. A response to the MP's letter has been prepared and was issued on 30 November 2010 by Ed Lester.
	Since 22 November 2010 all chief executive correspondence parliamentary or otherwise, is acknowledged on the date of receipt. The letter from David Winnick's office was received prior to this change in process.

General Practitioners

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to place an obligation on the proposed GP consortia to deliver an integrated continence service.

Paul Burstow: The White Paper "Liberating the NHS" set out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
	GP consortia will have responsibilities for commissioning a comprehensive range of services that meets the needs of their local populations.
	We propose that GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of national health service services. We will expect consortia to involve relevant health and social care professionals from all sectors in helping design care pathways or care packages that achieve more integrated delivery of care, higher quality, and more efficient use of NHS resources. This will create an effective dialogue across all health, and where appropriate, social care, professionals.

Maternity Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the implementation of  (a) Maternity Matters,  (b) the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services,  (c) the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery and  (d) Midwifery 2020.

Anne Milton: "Maternity Matters, Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service-and the National Service Framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services" set out the previous administration's commitment to improve heath services for women and their children. We set out our long-term vision for the future of the national health service in the White Paper, "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS". By focusing on health outcomes and developing provider maternity networks, bringing together all the maternity services a mother may need, we will deliver high quality maternity services where women are able to make safe, informed choices a reality throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatally. "Maternity Matters" and the "NSF" have helped the NHS to lay the foundations for some of this work.
	In October, we published a consultation document, "Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control. A consultation on proposals", seeking views on a range of choice issues, including which maternity choices users would like to see in place and which of these are most important. The consultation closes on 14 January 2011 and we encourage anyone with an interest in maternity services to respond.
	Ministers and policy officials are considering the recommendations of "Front Line Care: Report by the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England" which was published in March 2010 in the light of the new Government's plans. A response will be issued in due course.
	Ministers welcomed the vision of midwifery services and key messages laid out in the final report of the Midwifery 2020 programme "Midwifery 2020: Delivering expectations" published in September 2010. Decisions about implementation of Midwifery 2020 are a matter for local decision-makers.

Public Sector: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average monetary value was of a Government contract awarded to a  (a) small enterprise and  (b) medium-sized enterprise in 2009-10.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally. Under government transparency commitments all Departments will be required to publish their contracts from January 2011. As part of this measure they will be required to state whether the contract has been awarded to an SME.

Academies

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether selective grammar schools in the state sector which become academies may retain their current selective admissions criteria.

Nick Gibb: The Academies Act allows existing maintained grammar schools and partially selective schools to become academies and retain their selective arrangements. However, it specifically requires that all other academies admit pupils of all abilities. Academies which were not selective as maintained schools cannot, therefore, introduce selection by ability.

Discretionary Learner Support Fund

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanism will be in place to assist an institution which exhausts its Discretionary Learner Support Fund allocation and subsequently deems more students to require funding during the academic year 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 25 November 2010
	 We plan to seek the views of education providers as we finalise the details of how the enhanced discretionary learner support fund will operate. We would expect schools, colleges and training providers to use their allocation to target those who most need it to enable them to participate in education.
	Arrangements for the current discretionary learner support fund provide for unused funds to be redistributed to providers which indicate they need more resource.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of people in each  (a) socio-economic and  (b) ethnic group received education maintenance allowance in each constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2010
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Stockport with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students normally resident in Coventry receive education maintenance allowance; and what estimate he has made of the number who will receive this allowance following implementation of proposals in the comprehensive spending review.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2010
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Coventry South with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in  Hansard and the House Libraries.

GCSE

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what number and proportion of pupils achieving five A* to C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE achieved this by including an equivalent qualification in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The number and percentage of pupils achieving five A* to C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE by including an equivalent qualification is given below:
	
		
			   Number of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and mathematics by including an equivalent qualification  Percentage of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and mathematics by including an equivalent qualification 
			 1997 75 0.0 
			 1998 113 0.0 
			 1999 304 0.1 
			 2000 350 0.1 
			 2001 596 0.1 
			 2002 1,225 0.2 
			 2003 2,221 0.4 
			 2004 1,671 0.3 
			 2005 2,466 0.4 
			 2006 3,849 0.6 
			 2007 6,662 1.0 
			 2008 8,239 1.3 
			 2009 12,170 1.9 
			 2010(1) 22,726 3.5 
			 (1 )Provisional.   Notes:   1. Figures counted as GCSEs from 1997 include GCSE short courses.  2. Figures counted as GCSEs from 2004 onwards include vocational GCSEs and GCSE double awards.  3. Figures from 1997 to 2004 relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year.  4. Figures from 2005 onwards are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.  5. The English and mathematics components of the published measures relate to GCSEs only. Therefore the pupils in this answer will have passed an equivalent qualification to make up all or part of the other three GCSEs required.

Head Teachers: Powers

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers headteachers have to dismiss poorly-performing teachers.

Nick Gibb: Governing bodies working alongside head teachers are required to establish procedures for dealing with lack of capability on the part of staff at the school and may dismiss staff, including teachers, whose performance is unacceptable.
	The current statutory capability guidance overlaps with the mandatory arrangements for the performance management of teachers. We want to make it easier for schools to tackle poor performance. As "The Importance of Teaching-the Schools White Paper 2010" makes clear, we will achieve this by simplifying the current arrangements and removing duplication between the performance management and the capability procedures for managing poor performance. This will allow schools to deal more swiftly and effectively with under-performing teachers.

Pupils: Hearing Impairment

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the number of teachers of the deaf in the South West; and what assessment he has made of the merits of steps to improve specialist support services for deaf children.

Sarah Teather: We do not routinely collect data about the number of teachers of the deaf by region. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that teachers of the deaf possess the appropriate mandatory qualification to undertake the role and it is a matter for local authorities to ensure that they have enough qualified teachers to meet their statutory commitments.
	The Government will be publishing a Green Paper on special educational needs and disabilities, which will explore how we can improve support for all children with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with hearing impairments. It is a priority to improve the educational outcomes for all children and we recognise the important role specialists, such as teachers of the deaf, play in meeting this goal.